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Sounds like you have a bad connection on that strip. I would check your joints
~Aaron
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0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)
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Registered User
Re: Flexwatt tape temp variability
Sounds like that one has a bad connector. It's probably only getting heat from the tub below it.
I would resolder the connections on that one.
Last edited by steeler; 07-11-2012 at 05:31 PM.
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BPnet Veteran
Re: Flexwatt tape temp variability
My rack i have now, the first one i have built, i have 4 shelves with four flex watt heat strips in parallel as well and i encountered the same problem. From now on i think i am going to just run one continuous strip and snake it through the rack. This way so i know all the heat tape is functioning and it should be all at the same temp.*
*Note: I would expect maybe some cold spots in the heat tape, but this argument really boils down to the quality of heat tape.
Just wanted to add my two cents, and what i have learned. But i would definitely agree with the other two have previously posted.
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Registered User
Yeah... I started thinking about the connection as well earlier today. At first, I figured that if the connection was bad, all further flexwatt on the parallel further from the power source wouldn't work. But I now know that may not be the case. Considering they're all run in parallell, all the wires may be well connected together, but if only one of the joints isn't soldered correctly, then that single strip wouldn't work well.
I just finished soldering an extra strip of heat tape I have, and I'll try to change out the strip tonight. I hate soldering while they're taped to the rack (worst thing ever btw), so I soldered one on my table. Hopefully after I switch it out with this new one, it should work fine.
I'll keep you guys posted!!!! Thanks for the advice!
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I run individual strips of flexwatt on my rack all are individually plugs to a wired strip of receptacles. I can unplug one level if it becomes empty or for cleaning with out effecting the rest. Water (disinfectant and electricity together don't sound like a good idea to me.)
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Re: Flexwatt tape temp variability
Originally Posted by kitedemon
I run individual strips of flexwatt on my rack all are individually plugs to a wired strip of receptacles. I can unplug one level if it becomes empty or for cleaning with out effecting the rest. Water (disinfectant and electricity together don't sound like a good idea to me.)
Me too. I am not a big fan of the parallel wiring setup.
Are all of the lengths the same?
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Yes they are. It was easy in my case it is older flexwatt and there is cut lines.
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Re: Flexwatt tape temp variability
Originally Posted by PsychD_Student
Yeah... I started thinking about the connection as well earlier today. At first, I figured that if the connection was bad, all further flexwatt on the parallel further from the power source wouldn't work. But I now know that may not be the case. Considering they're all run in parallell, all the wires may be well connected together, but if only one of the joints isn't soldered correctly, then that single strip wouldn't work well.
I just finished soldering an extra strip of heat tape I have, and I'll try to change out the strip tonight. I hate soldering while they're taped to the rack (worst thing ever btw), so I soldered one on my table. Hopefully after I switch it out with this new one, it should work fine.
I'll keep you guys posted!!!! Thanks for the advice!
If wired in series then if you have a bad joint then everything below won't work, but in parallel the strips below will work in most cases.
~Aaron
0.1 Pastel 100% Het Clown Ball Python (Hestia)
1.0 Coastal/Jungle Carpet Python (Shagrath)
0.1 Dumeril's Boa (Nergal)
0.1 Bearded Dragon (Gaius)
1.0 Siberian Husky (Picard)
0.1 German Shepherd/Lab Mix (Jadzia)
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Registered User
Re: Flexwatt tape temp variability
So I actually had a bad connection. One of the wires somehow disconnected. I suppose it wasn't soldered as well as I thought. I fixed it and it worked out fine. They are all the same length, and now they're all working well at the same temp. It all worked out for the best! I still prefer running my tape in parallel vs one strip or series, even if the troubleshooting can be annoying.
My brother who helps me with alot of my DIY stuff is a physics phd student. He went on this long rant explaining how theoretically running them in series will produce a less even charge on the flexwatt than running them in parallell. However, he wasn't sure whether or not the degree to which the charges differ from the beginning to end of the series is negligible. Any input those of you who do it in series?
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